Diversity Development Committee

The Diversity Development Committee is charged with keeping the Association engaged with issues and activities relevant to equity, diversity and inclusion. It meets during the annual conference and is open to any interested member of the Association willing to commit time and energy to achieving committee goals during the year. 

The Diversity Development Committee mission is to promote and develop diversity and inclusiveness within the PACRAO community.


Resources


Diversity Development Committee Members, 2022-2023

Laura Schonberger, Vice President of Diversity Development

Laura Schonberger works as a Strategic Integration Specialist, working in the Office of Admission & Evaluation, as well as the Registrar's Office, at University of Phoenix.  Laura has worked in various roles within the University over the past 15 years (ranging from Student Services to Re-Entry to her current position).  As a Strategic Integration Specialist, Laura assists with employee engagement, various technical and communications projects, change management, professional development, and recognition programs. 

Laura serves on the board of the Phoenix Women Rising (PWR) Employee Resource Group, which focuses on bringing awareness to women's issues, creating a network of support and development, and empowering women to break through the glass ceiling.  Laura received a BA in English from Northern Arizona University, a BS in Human Services Management from University of Phoenix and a Masters of Education in Curriculum Instruction and Development from University of Phoenix.  In my “free time” I take oil painting classes at the local community college, attend concerts, and cook!


Photo of Devin Andrews Devin Andrews

Devin Andrews is the Vice President of Admissions and Evaluation at the University of Phoenix, a position she has held since 2015. With a passion for helping adult learners achieve their educational goals, she first entered the University in 1999 as an Academic Counselor and has since held several administrative and executive positions.  She is also the founding lead and current executive sponsor for the University's Phoenix Women Rising employee resource group.  Devin also engages in the broader higher education community through presentations, articles, and participation in committees for the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Education from University of Phoenix.


photo of Les Apouchtine Les Apouchtine

Les Apouchtine works as an Acting Deputy Registrar at Vancouver Community College (VCC) in Canada. In the last twelve years, Les has held several different positions in the Registrar's Office at Langara College and now VCC.  In addition to overseeing operations of the Registrar’s Office, at any given time he is busy working on several different projects like testing software upgrades or planning Convocation.  Les completed PACRAO's Leadership Development Institute and recently earned his Masters in Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership.


 Helena Babiski

Helena Babiski is the Assistant Registrar for Transfer & Articulation at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, Arizona. She has been in higher education for over 11 years, previously working with the statewide organization AZTransfer. She now uses that experience serving as the statewide representative for CCC as the transfer and articulation facilitator coordinating her work as a member of the Gen Ed and Curriculum Committees to ensure transferability of courses for students.  After completing the second cohort of the Leadership Development Institute, Helena felt compelled to find opportunities to continue her PACRAO participation and contribute. She has since served on the N&E committee and is excited to be a member of the Diversity Development Committee.


Photo of Kristin Benson Kristin Benson

Kristin has worked in higher education for 21 years and in registrars' offices for over 17 years.  She currently serves as the deputy university registrar - compliance at Oregon State University, overseeing degree completion, veterans and athletic compliance, projects and communications, and the office's technology team.  She's committed to bringing equity, inclusion and anti-racist concepts into registrars' offices by focusing on policy review, embedding equity analysis in project management and finding ways to remove barriers for students, staff and faculty.  When she is not working, she's probably powerlifting - she holds two state records in Oregon - or watching way, way too much TV/YouTube.


 Erin Michelle Collins

Erin Michelle Collins has worked in higher education for 17 years and is currently the Registrar at Pomona College. She directs the administration of the Office of the Registrar and all its related functions, including maintenance of academic records, development of the course catalog and class schedules, grading, degree conferral, and the development and maintenance of the student information system and other auxiliary programs. Erin’s educational background is in Applied Psychology. Whenever possible she incorporates her educational knowledge and background with her profession. She has served on institutional Equity and Diversity Committees and presented at the 105th AACRAO Annual Meeting “Understanding Culture: Creating Successful Intercultural Relations”. At her previous institution she collaborated with the Institute Diversity Officer, Office of Student Affairs, and International Students and Programs to create training programs and presented to Campus Safety, Student Identity Groups, Orientation Leaders, and Incoming International students on culture, diversity, acculturation, and intercultural relations. Erin is currently the Chair of AACRAO’s Professional Access and Equity Committee. She offers her unique skill set, knowledge, passion, and drive to further the mission of the PACRAO Diversity Development Committee.


 Amanda Mu

Amanda Mu (she/her) is the Director of Events & Programs in the Office of Outreach at DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, WA. In this role, Amanda works with DigiPen’s Outreach team to create admissions outreach experiences and opportunities that help connect prospective students with the DigiPen community. She is passionate about supporting prospective students as they learn about, explore, and navigate their interests and goals. In addition to her admissions outreach role, Amanda currently serves on the Steering Committee of DigiPen’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee and enjoys volunteering with mentoring and leadership programs for undergraduate students. Amanda received her BA in English Language & Literature from the University of Washington, and her M.Ed in Student Development Administration from Seattle University. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve and to learn with the PACRAO Diversity Committee.


Sarah Pishny-Foster

Sarah Pishny-Foster works as a Degree Progress Specialist in the Office of the University Registrar at Stanford University in California. Sarah has been working in higher education for the last 6 years, with experience in student career services, undergraduate education and academic planning, student support services, and new student and family programs through new student orientation and first year experience programming. Sarah has a deep commitment to providing students with an accessible, equitable, and developmental experience as they navigate their educational journey. With her experience in Student Affairs and Student Life, Sarah was looking for new ways to support student success, which led her to receive her Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University in 2021. After graduate school, Sarah felt compelled to put her student-centered approach to a new test, by finding opportunities to bring social justice, inclusivity, and equity to the academic policy and processes that impact students every day. By being on this committee, Sarah hopes that she can use her continued passion for diversity, community, and restorative justice, to view our work as registrars through an equitable and accessible lens and to make necessary improvements to maintain these core values and the mission of this committee.


Sarah Reed

Sarah is the University Registrar at the University of California, Berkeley. Sarah has been working in higher education in various leadership roles within both student affairs and academic affairs for 18 years and has served on numerous academic, curricular, diversity and inclusion, FERPA, and other policy and senate committees. More than a third of her career was as a law school registrar. Sarah has been deeply attracted to evaluating structures and procedures for greater student access, equity, and inclusion. Sarah also has a deep love for evaluating these same principles and how they might be more evenly applied for staff in higher education. She has a keen interest in investigating the intersection of our personal and professional lives, which naturally draws her to this work. Exploring our dynamic humanity, our unique lenses and gifts, our need for deep authenticity, and our deep longing to live the fullest, most magnificent life of our dreams is her personal quest for herself and never-ending passion. You'll often find Sarah is the hype woman- cheering others on to be bold and live BIGGER, despite your fears (herself included).